Dating back to 1962, the Helms Award is regarded as Australian Baseball’s most prestigious award; and is awarded based on a players merit in Claxton Shield competition.

Previous award winners include; been awarded to players such as David Nilsson, Ray Michell, Doug Mateljan, Don Knapp, Brad Harman and Neil Page.

2010 saw one of the most tightly contested Helms Award polls in many years; with 2 votes separating each of the three nominees.

However, the winner of the 2010 Helms Award - polling close to the maximum in all 6 quality outings to see him lead all comers with 30 total votes and become the first pitcher to win the Helms award since Victorian Lindsay Orford in 1986……..was New South Welshman, Wayne Lundgren.

Winner:                 Wayne Lundgren (RHP – NSW Patriots)

New South Wales’s Wayne Lundgren has long been one of the Claxton Shield’s most feared pitchers. The towering right hander uses a mix of control, deception and overall pitching guile to near perfection, and his 2010 campaign was no exception. Making 8 starts for the NSW Patriots, Lundgren compiled a 3-1 record to compliment and impressive 3.02 ERA– but those numbers become staggering when you consider his quality starts throughout the year. Lundgren lasted at least 5 innings or more six times throughout the year and during those starts allowed a total of just 3 runs over 33.1 innings while striking out 28 and walking just 3 batters.

Runner Up:          Paul Mildren (LHP – South Australia)

Paul Mildren announced his return to the forefront of Australia’s elite pitchers this year in emphatic style. After a lengthy year in the US; book-ended by both World Baseball Classic and World Cup duties with the National team; Mildren turned his focus to his native South Australian side in their storied return to Norwood Oval.  High amongst the League leaders in Innings pitched, strikeouts, ERA and wins; Mildren was the staff “ACE” on a club that turned a miserable 2009 campaign, into the near storybook worst-to-first finish this year. Always the consummate professional, his tenacity on the mound was second to none; highlighted by a completed game effort against eventual champions Victoria in his “must-win” final start of the regular season.

Runner Up:              Michael Collins (Catcher – South Australia)

Without the benefit of his hometown Canberra fielding a team in 2010, Michael Collins jumped at the opportunity to be the everyday catcher for South Australia this year – and certainly didn’t disappoint his adopted state.

Making his debut in Round 3; Collins made an immediate impact hitting a home run and driving in 3 runs in his first game for SA.

From that point on Collins simply devoured opposing pitchers; compiling a gaudy .417 season batting average while leading the league in Home Runs, slugging percentage and On-base Percentage; as well as ranking highly in nearly all other offensive categories.

Most impressive however was a remarkable stretch where Collins hit safely in 9 straight at bats, while slugging 4 home runs and knocking in 11 RBI.